Irish Times legal journalism recognised with merit certificates

Irish Times journalism has been awarded two certificates of merit in the Law Society of Ireland's annual Justice Media Awards.

In the daily newspapers category, journalists Carl O’Brien, Sinead O’Shea, Bryan O’Brien and Paul Scott received a certificate for Lives in Limbo, a project that looked inside direct provision centres.

Court reporter Conor Gallagher's article in the Irish Times headlined Untangling the vexed question of anonymity in sex cases also received a merit certificate for revealing "some of the anomalies the strict rules have created".

Gallagher and his colleague Declan Brennan were also awarded a merit certificate for their broadcast work on Today FM’s The Last Word.

Cormac O’Keefe of the Irish Examiner won the main award in the daily newspaper category for what the judges said was his compelling work on life sentences.

Ann Murphy of the Evening Echo won the regional newspaper for her series, “When love breaks down – relationship law in Ireland”. Murphy’s entry also won the overall award.

“Ranging from waiting times for legal aid in family law cases, divorce and annulment law, alternative solutions to family law conflicts, to the complex issues surrounding domestic violence, this series is an almost perfect look at the laws dealing with the breakdown of relationships,” said the judges’ citation of her work.

In other categories, RTÉ’s Vivienne Traynor won the main award in television news for her reporting on the Anglo Trial. Traynor also received a merit certificate for her reports on the Ian Bailey case.

Helen Bruce of the Irish Daily Mail won the print media court reporting award for her article, “Closing speeches in the Graham Dwyer Trial” while her colleague at the paper Catherine Fegan picked up a merit certificate in that category for her work on the same trial.

The Law Society said the objectives of its Justice Media Awards, which are now in their 23rd year, are to recognise outstanding print and broadcast journalism that contributes to the public’s understanding of justice, the legal system or any specific legal issues.